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The World's First Video Game Console
The Magnavox Odyssey, widely renowned as the first home computer games system is realeased in 1972. -
Pong Arcade Machine is Introduced
Nolan Bushnell co-develops the first Arcade Pong machine. When testing the machine at a local bar, the machine stopped functioning. The reason? There were so many quarters placed in the cabinet that it broke down! -
The Atari 2600 is born!
The Atari 2600 (referred to as the Atari VCS upon release) was the first major video games console on the market. While not the first machine to use interchangable cartridges, it was the first commercially successful video game console to do so. -
The Video Game Crash of 1983
While often accepted as the sole reason behind the decline in video games for several years, ET was only one of several participants in the video game crash of 1983, where an overabundance of titles, with little to no quality checking, and no official standards towards the creation of games, caused a massive decline in sales, as well as a growing unpopular opinion of video games. -
Nintendo Makes Games Good Again
Nintendo enters the market of home console gaming in North America, after positive reception of their "Family Computer" in Japan. The system was renamed the "Nintendo Entertainment System" in western markets, so that consumers would not relate the console with older, then reviled game systems. -
Game Boy Makes its Big Debut
Game Boy is released after the Nintendo Entertainment System becomes a huge success. This tinier console could fit in your pocket, and although it had a limited color pallete, could last for several hours. Despite competitors boasting better graphics and color screen, the Game Boy stayed on the market for over 10 years before receiving an update. -
The ESRB Set the Standard in Gaming
Large amounts of blood, gore, and parental themes caused outrage among concerned adults. Fearing federal regulations, a group of major video game developers and publishers created the Interactive Digital Software Association, which would self regulate the content found in games. Through this partnership, the ESRB was created: a ratings system much like those found in movies, would assist parents in locating age-appropriate games for their children. -
The Next Video Game Console From... Sony??
Sony Computer Entertainment releases the PlayStation games console in Septermber of 1995. With the "U R NOT E" campaign, and a very in your face marketing campaign, Sony would become the best competitor for Nintendo in the late 90's, eventually trumping the Big N in console sales today. -
Microsoft Takes an Online Approach
Microsoft opens up a games division and unleashes the Xbox in 2001, taking SEGA's place in the 3-way console race for dominance. It's #1 selling factor? Halo, a first-person sci-fi shooter, becomes the poster child for online gaming on video game consoles, making it practically a requirement in future games. -
Gaming Comes to Life
2016 marks the year of virtual reality systems coming to consumer markets. The Oculus and Sony's "Morpheus" could bring in a new age of gaming, where the player can be fully immersed in the action. Only time will tell if this new market will be the next logical step in gaming, or just another fad. Click here to learn more about Project Morpheus
